I feel so much safer!

Just a quick vent. We’re selling our house, and the city requires a “point of sale” inspection before the home is sold. So, I footed their $160 bill for the inspector to come and make sure that my home is in salable condition–trust me, I take care of my house. He was here for a grand total of 12 minutes for that $160. His requirements:

1) Install a GFCI near the washer in the basement (fair enough, it should have been one, but it somehow passed their inspection 7 years ago…).
2) Have a natural gas “space heater” in the basement checked for safety. There goes another $150. (the heating guy couldn’t believe the inspector required that)
3) Attach an anti-tip device to the stove (did you know that is required?).

So, I have appeased him, and I now feel so much safer. I understand the purpose of the inspection, and they are bound to see some real dumps, but in cases like mine where the home is in good repair, $160 for 12 minutes? Gimme a break!

OK, mid-winter rant over.

Do not forget his drive time and paper work time?

Anti-tip device?! $*&@ you Mr. inspector.

Does it require a follow-up trip to confirm you complied?

Anti tip should of been put on when originally installed. I like the ones where they tell you to tear up the basement floor to add a vent or take a look at the plumbing under it. Had one customer that they made here take out her second floor bathroom since the room did not meet space requirements. She got to pay the plumber, carpenter and so on. On top of that her two bathroom home dropped to a one bath and lost tens of thousands of dollars in value.

Havent met a inspector yet that I wouldnt love to kick right in the sack.

The idiot one from today was telling me a 2″ deep pan under a water heater would not hold all the water and needed to be 4″s deep. There is a drain line on the side of the pan.

I don’t know when the anti tip law came into effect, but I’d bet the stove was purchased before that. Either way, it was good enough when I bought the house…

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Do not forget his drive time and paper work time?

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I can walk to city hall in 10 minutes!

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I don’t know when the anti tip law came into effect, but I’d bet the stove was purchased before that. Either way, it was good enough when I bought the house…

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Did they make you pull a permit and hire a plumber to work on it? My guess would be back in the 70s that law was put in place.

To me inspectors seem to work according to who is in office at the city. City looking for money inspectors find all kinds of work that needs to be done. any reason to pull a permit. Back 10 years ago when there was plenty of work and money to go around inspectors would only cite the most critical issues that would cause harm.

Had to sit through a class with a bunch of inspectors last spring. Talk about a bunch of douchebags. Sitting around trying to top each other telling stories of who they made do what. The thing is for the most part construction work would go along just fine without these people on the job.

What kind of space heater is in the basement? More curious than anything. Recently had to inspect a fire place for a customer selling a house which was strange. Did the inspector want the main furnace inspected? Usually that is all that is needed. For what the inspectors fluff job is they could atleast do that since that is a life safety issue which is what you are having them inspect in my opinion.

So usually you pay an inspector to do a walk threw and than they want the furnace inspected so you pay someone like me to do it for a fee of course which should have just been done in the first place with out the fluff guy who had a 1-2day inspector class

I’ve never payed for a home inspection when I’ve been the seller. The buyer pays for that around here anyway.

Short man’s disease?

That anti-tip device is crucial. I have seen it 100’s of times. Drunk guy goes to put in a frozen pizza, falls on the open door and BAM! Stuck in a hot oven.
DT

City workers need wind up time also.dont forget about that.

Mike) No. Actually, it surprised me that he let me put the GFCI in without a permit. I figured he’d get me on that, be he actually suggested that I do it myself. And the stove is probably 8-10 years old, so I am not sure why an anti-tip device was not installed. I jerry-rigged one, and it satisfied him.

396Ranger) I attached a photo of said heater. It’s a “Warm Morning” natural gas, vented heater. It’s old (the house was built in ’64, so maybe that old?), but it really cooks! The main, forced-air furnace has no vents into the basement, so I use it whenever I am down there and it’s chilly. The main furnace was checked out/tuned up this fall, so he was okay without having it inspected again. Anyhow, it checked out just fine, and the heating guy said there isn’t really much that can go wrong with them.

Glenn) This is a city-required pre-sale inspection paid for by the seller. I am sure that once we find a buyer, they will (and should) have their own inspection done. This inspection is more to look for property maintenance issues.

DT) I tried to tip it, and I am pretty sure that the door would break off before the oven tipped over. I’m sure it has happened, hence the law, but it seemed a bit nit-picky to me.

I’m not looking for justifications or pity from anyone. I’m just frustrated with the money I am going to lose on this place (bought in ’07 ), so it annoyed me that the city wanted their cut, too.

Now, anyone looking for a nicely updated 3 BR, 2BA rambler in Crystal???

Oops I just tossed my anti tip for my stove. Thought it was a pretty dumb idea. Hope I will be able to pass this house off to someone!

I was just trying to be funny. I don’t have an anti-tip on mine and so far I’m injury free while I’m drunk and making pizzas.
DT

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I was just trying to be funny.

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Oh, I got your humor, don’t worry. Usually, I am more concerned about passing out with the pizza in the oven, or my wife forgetting to take the cardboard off the bottom of the pizza before it goes in the oven (it’s happened). Who am I kidding, with a 2.5 year old and 12 week old, I don’t have time for that kind of debauchery!

That thing is old I can maybe see why he wanted it inspected.

Good luck on the sale.

Did you give him a $10 tip for his services

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Anti tip should of been put on when originally installed. I like the ones where they tell you to tear up the basement floor to add a vent or take a look at the plumbing under it. Had one customer that they made here take out her second floor bathroom since the room did not meet space requirements. She got to pay the plumber, carpenter and so on. On top of that her two bathroom home dropped to a one bath and lost tens of thousands of dollars in value.

Havent met a inspector yet that I wouldnt love to kick right in the sack.

The idiot one from today was telling me a 2″ deep pan under a water heater would not hold all the water and needed to be 4″s deep. There is a drain line on the side of the pan.

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Thanks for the stereotype. BTW, it is code to have a pan 4″ deep under a 6 gal. heater in the ceiling. 4715.2240 There are lots of code sections that are stupid, I agree, but they still have to be enforced… just say’n
Any inspector should show you a code section when asked, I do it all the time, and encourage plumbers to do so.

Again, thanks for lumping us all together.. nice

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Who am I kidding, with a 2.5 year old and 12 week old, I don’t have time for that kind of debauchery!

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The anti tip device it to protect your child! It’s there because kids were climbing onto oven doors (cold more than hot) and their weight on the door was tipping the stove over on top of them. Several kids have been injured and I believe some deaths have occurred from this happening.
I feel it is a very good regulation.

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Did you give him a $10 tip for his services

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Who am I kidding, with a 2.5 year old and 12 week old, I don’t have time for that kind of debauchery!

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The anti tip device it to protect your child! It’s there because kids were climbing onto oven doors (cold more than hot) and their weight on the door was tipping the stove over on top of them. Several kids have been injured and I believe some deaths have occurred from this happening.
I feel it is a very good regulation.

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I remember that epidemic. Stupid parents almost lead to wiping out generation X! I can’t tell you how many times I used the oven as a fort. Now as an adult, I can do it and be assured I am safe from it tipping over on me.

St. Paul has some beautiful code enforcers, as well.

And…all permit pulling required. 5 minute job takes days and requires permit pulling, re inspection.

Dog

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Who am I kidding, with a 2.5 year old and 12 week old, I don’t have time for that kind of debauchery!

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The anti tip device it to protect your child! It’s there because kids were climbing onto oven doors (cold more than hot) and their weight on the door was tipping the stove over on top of them. Several kids have been injured and I believe some deaths have occurred from this happening.
I feel it is a very good regulation.

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I remember that epidemic. Stupid parents almost lead to wiping out generation X! I can’t tell you how many times I used the oven as a fort. Now as an adult, I can do it and be assured I am safe from it tipping over on me.

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I guess you just don’t get it.

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Anti tip should of been put on when originally installed. I like the ones where they tell you to tear up the basement floor to add a vent or take a look at the plumbing under it. Had one customer that they made here take out her second floor bathroom since the room did not meet space requirements. She got to pay the plumber, carpenter and so on. On top of that her two bathroom home dropped to a one bath and lost tens of thousands of dollars in value.

Havent met a inspector yet that I wouldnt love to kick right in the sack.

The idiot one from today was telling me a 2″ deep pan under a water heater would not hold all the water and needed to be 4″s deep. There is a drain line on the side of the pan.

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Thanks for the stereotype. BTW, it is code to have a pan 4″ deep under a 6 gal. heater in the ceiling. 4715.2240 There are lots of code sections that are stupid, I agree, but they still have to be enforced… just say’n

Any inspector should show you a code section when asked, I do it all the time, and encourage plumbers to do so.

Again, thanks for lumping us all together.. nice

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So why would the state require 4″ when the manufacturers say 2″ max?

Sorry but if the shoe fits.

Even at its best if a inspector comes out to my job, okays every thing and signs off they have still wasted my time and customers money. The job would of gone on just fine with never seeing or paying for them. More so it seems they want to nit pick some minute little detail of the job and end up wasting more time and money. If they thought they where doing some great community protection service to save everyone we would have inspectors at every doctors visit double checking those critical life making decisions. Cant get their foot in the door there so stick to taxing the homeowners for some lame excuse of a service. What a joke.

Geeeeeezzzzzzz…. I am sure glad I live in out in the boon docks!LOL

I can’t imagine dealing with all those num-nut inspectors. We built about 30 twin homes between 2004-2008 and most of our inspectors were not to bad but a couple were nothing but power hungry.

Had one in Fargo, he worked for the city, that had physically threatened one of our sub-contractors that he was going to shove a 2″ lead pipe up his arrs! We went and talked with the city and we never saw him again.

Had another one in Fargo that said our joining wall fire break would not meet to code but he could not and would not tell us how to fix it or what he was looking for. So we kept on changing it until he said OK. What a dip-chit! IMHO

I wish all jobs would go as well, but unfortunately there is some real crummy work out there. Sewers back pitched, drains back pitched, not holding tests, etc.

Are we saving the world?? He// no!! But we do help some homeowners from future problems.

Don’t even get me started on the State plumbing code, we need a change badly!!

Have a good day!!

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So usually you pay an inspector to do a walk threw and than they want the furnace inspected so you pay someone like me to do it for a fee of course which should have just been done in the first place with out the fluff guy who had a 1-2day inspector class

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There are different kinds of inspectors. Code inspectors from the city, state, or county and that is heavily regulated.

These City inspections such as was done in Ralph’s case there is a checklist of what they need to check and that is all. The thought of it is so the houses are better maintained in their city and help keep property values up. Many times these inspections are a given amount and they only do the checklist nothing more. I do not really agree with these inspections because most of the time they accomplish very little.

There are Private company Home Inspections and this is where it can vary even more. I started my own home inspection company this year after much training and experience working on old homes. In MN there are no regulations you can start with no training nothing but a name. This is the reason you should get recommendations when you hire a company. Number of years in the business means nothing because it does not show quality. When I go into a home I look for evidence of problems and future problems, and also safety. When I send them my report there is a page of major expense and safety issues then about 30 or more pages with the areas of the home and small notes that always include photos and tips about small fixes that will save money by fixing the issues before they are a big problem.

I was at a home just the other day that there were floor joists over-notched or completely cut off to accommodate plumbing. The home buyer was shocked he did not see that. He is still buying the home but making a plan on what to fix. You would be amazed at the mistakes made over the years of remodeling of old homes. Everything is fixable the only question is cost.

Home Inspectors also look at the house as a system and can not be experts at every part of the home. When there are issues that go beyond the scope of the inspection that is when you are advised to get your ________ Inspected by a qualified professional. You can choose to not do that but it is advised. It happens often that the home buyer moves in and gets upset that the furnace stops working and blames the inspector even after the inspection shows the furnace to be 30 years old and is at the end of it’s useful life. It has not happened to me yet but you never know.

These home inspections are typically 2-3 hours depending on home size. Add in travel and report writing and it is well worth paying a 3rd party inspector to come in and inspect a property before you buy.

Ralph you knew I would eventually chime in right? Glad that is all he called out though. Like I told you you never know what they are going to call out.

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I wish all jobs would go as well, but unfortunately there is some real crummy work out there. Sewers back pitched, drains back pitched, not holding tests, etc.

Are we saving the world?? He// no!! But we do help some homeowners from future problems.

Don’t even get me started on the State plumbing code, we need a change badly!!

Have a good day!!

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Are you a code inspector?

Mike, When manufacturer and State differ what one do you follow? 2 inch or 4 inch. State trumps. May not like it but that is the way it is for now.

Threw out my anti tip device in trash when installed new stove.